Cork's latest All-Star Katie Quirke flies the flag for Bride Rovers

Bride Rovers and Cork senior Katie Quirke was a deserving recipient of her first TG4 LGFA All-Star at a banquet held in the Bonnington Hotel, Dublin recently.

The top scorer in this year’s All-Ireland senior football championship was delighted to receive her first All-Star at a lavish ceremony.

Quirke’s family members were present to witness the happy event. The newly acquired trophy has taken pride of place in the Quirke household.

“I think it’s in the kitchen at the minute just in case anyone wants to see it!” the Cork LGFA senior commented.

“There’s a fair few who’ve called and maybe another few over the next few days. I’m happy to show it off for a while.

“On the night itself, I had my family there with me. So it was lovely for them. It was special. Picking up my first one, it was lovely. I think they were probably just as surprised and happy as I was. It was a great evening.

They nearly stayed out longer than we did! We had a good night of it. I think we made the most of our trip up to Dublin.” 

Katie Quirke’s All-Star season began amid gale winds and incessant rain on Bishopstown’s 4G pitch last January. 

Storm Isha was battering the country as the Cork seniors got their Lidl LGFA National League Division 1 campaign off to a winning start.

In a precursor of what was to come, Quirke scored her team’s goal and six points in a 1-6 to 0-4 victory over Galway amid farcical weather conditions.

Alas, a nasty injury, whilst lining out for UCC, ended Quirke’s league campaign prematurely. Cork would not win another Division 1 fixture before being relegated. Quirke remembers that opening day well.

“Yeah, Galway, I remember that was a desperate day out in Bishopstown,” Quirke recalled.

“We got a good win but things were kind of rocky for us and we got relegated. That is why it was so important for us to pick ourselves up.

“With the injury, I suppose I was kind of trying my best to come back as quickly as I could. Things did come right and I think we had a big swing in form in Munster and then a good championship.” 

PUSH

From the lows of National League relegation and a Munster LGFA final loss to Kerry came a revitalised TG4 All-Ireland SFC campaign. 

The Bride Rovers forward would top the All-Ireland scoring charts with 1-40. Disappointingly, Quirke and Cork’s title hopes were dashed at the semi-final stage by Galway.

Looking ahead to 2025, Joe Carroll and a new backroom team have taken over the Cork LGFA seniors. Katie Quirke knows there is already a close bond and determination within the Cork senior panel to improve on last year’s showing.

“I don’t think any one of us would be coming back this year if we didn’t think that we could go a step further,” the Bride Rovers forward said.

“Once you go back training, you spend the bones of three or four days a week together. So you’re always going to have a close bond with those girls. You see them more than you see your own family at times.

Hopefully, we’ll get off to a good start in the league. That could set us up well for the year, that’ll be the aim.” 

Let’s hope an injury-free campaign sees Katie Quirke carrying her All-Star form into 2025.